Number of U.S. Fiber-to-the-Home Communities Tops 650

Las Vegas, NV - Telecommunications industry leaders attending the fourth annual FTTH Conference in Las Vegas received word that the United States has achieved a significant milestone in next-generation broadband deployment -- more than 650 communities are now wired with direct optical fiber connections, or in industry terms, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH).

The news was released in conjunction with the latest 'U.S. Optical Fiber Communities 2005' research report, sponsored by the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and Fiber Optic Communities of the United States (FOCUS). In total, the research listed 652 FTTH communities in 46 states, and 322,700 connected homes. By comparison, the Sept. 2004 report listed 217 FTTH communities and 146,500 connected homes.

For Chariton Valley Telecom Corporation of north-central Missouri, FTTH has proved both a sound business strategy and an investment in the communities it serves. 'We've built-out five towns with direct fiber connections, and the customer response and take-rates have far surpassed our original expectations,' said Chariton Valley General Manager Jim Simon. 'The local economic development people couldn't be happier –FTTH had a major influence on a software support company's recent decision to move here.'

Many of the FTTH communities appearing in the report are indicative of the 'exurban' trend that's taken hold in growing areas throughout the country. Developers are building 30-40 miles beyond major city limits to give homeowners more affordable housing options away from the hustle and bustle of the city and suburbs.

Greenfield Communications of Southern California is on the cutting edge of this trend. The service provider works directly with developers to plan, install and operate advanced FTTH networks to master-planned communities throughout the Southwest. 'Our developers want high-technology solutions and services that will last. By deploying fiber to the home, we're giving them a cost-effective solution with the benefits of the future already built in, and we're giving their prospective homebuyers a very compelling reason for relocating,' said Mike Powers, president of Greenfield Communications.

Market researcher Michael Render, author of the U.S. Optical Fiber Communities list and keynote speaker at the FTTH Conference, noted several reasons for the accelerating growth of fiber-connected communities, including the fact that the average consumer take-rate for FTTH deployments offering triple-play services is now nearly 50 percent.

SOURCE: Fiber-to-the-Home Council